Ask-a-Gekko 2009

Can you get me an SA pos?

Did you ever consider the repercussions of naming yourself Gordon Gekko on an internet message forum? Is it not true your coworkers and associate/VPs would laugh if they knew? I mean come on, who in the industry would name themselves Gordon Gekko?

And you are a 3rd year analyst I'm guessing? "Member for: 3 days 6 hours"

Come on, I can't fathom a 2nd or 3rd year naming themselves Gordon Gekko on WSO. This is ridiculous.

I think his name is Gordon's "Gecko," as in the pet lizard of a man named Gordon. You don't have to like the joke, I suppose, but he's definitely not calling himself Gordon Gekko. As for yourself, you might consider the repercussions of not being able to read.

Please, spare me. I understand the "pun" but it's still immature. Once you start working you'll realize that.

1styearbanker chill out bro. i'm sure his coworkers dont know he is on this forum. he doesn't have a star...

Hey, I think its a pretty awesome name.

Product vs. Industry

Which one is "better" for b-school or PE?

All right, let me start with the 1st question then.

The recruiting process has turned out to be a lot more group specific then I thought.

I was interviewing for 1st rounds with a BB in NY and both bankers happened to be from financial sponsors. We got along really well until they asked me what group I'm interested in. I was honest and told them about my 1st choice, which wasn't their group but also told them that I'm open to all. The look on their faces immediately changed and the tone of the interview became sort of awkward. A couple of days later I interiviewed with a different BB (1st round) and I got along pretty well with my interviewer. He kept on talking about how great his group was and so I yielded and told him I'm interested in his group. After that, he looked really happy and told me to expect a call from his group.

So how do I tell people about my preferred group without screwing my chances for the entire firm?

Wow just checked tihs thread and jeez are people hateful. It's just a name homie - and naming yourself one' pet is not tantamount to naming yourself the person.

Also I made the account while watching a stupid Geico commercial so I just pieced together random references.

Anyway, onto the questions

To Blade 1988: It's good to be honest but it's also not bad to have multiple groups interested in you. I would not tell anyone your preference until its a group you actually like.

1) You can like multiple groups 2) If you say you like a group back it up with reasons, recent trasnactions, etc 3) If you have no interest, just say you're open to most ____ (product / industry) groups and would just like to meet more people. If the case is you don't like their group, make them feel better and let them talk. Be like I don't know much about the group here at ____(bank) that you're in but please tell me more blah blah 4) In the end, you just want a group that'll go to bat for you to pull you in, not to piss anyone off to boot you from the process

To PiperJeffrey Chiang

"Which one is "better" for b-school or PE?"

1) For B School - it's Inudstry / M&A (when I say product I mean DCM/ECM/etc) 2) For PE it depends ... what experience will have the MOST AMOUNT of PE firms interested? Probably industry because its more applicable. a) However, the quality of the funds will vary and you can get a very quality PE job out of product but you have to look harder

I think its ultimately silly to pick a job because it has a chance of getting yourself to another job. LIke the people and like the work first. If you don't like your group after first year, switch to another for 2nd or 3rd year but in GENERAL - Industry groups allow you a larger scope of jobs, etc.

p.s - Location also matters.

hey bro...i know this has been discussed before but was wondering whether you had any insight into which groups are the best in goldman sachs? i know about tmt. but whats the second-fiddle? also do you about GS financial sponsors and how it compares to MS? thanks in advance.

1) GS Sponsors laid off a bunch of people about a year ago so they're needing bodies and I'd take it over MS sponsors

2) I wouldn't call it 2nd fiddle but looking at deals, I'd take their healthcare group, then consumer, then industrials

Also GS ECM Is a good group - unless you don't want to do product then stick to the above recommendations

What happens if you are told that interviewers will contact you directly for interviews but it has been 2 weeks yet I have not been contacted by anyone?

got it, thanks. so its tmt, healthcare, consumer and industrials.

If you hvaen't heard - call them back

can you do a hedge fund comming out of financial sponsors?

Necesito trabajar.

how do you approach the informational interview, and is it impossible for me to get a FT position now that its january (non-target college senior). I had an unpaid internship (bear stearns JPM) last summer and am kinda f'ed in the A. Thinking about becoming a ski bum in british columbia.....

1) Ski bum in BC is a dope deal - friend of mine quit his job went out to Colorado to sell real estate / teach skiing - he lives a great life atm selling luxury condos

2) Informational interview or even coffee for 15 min can and will ben an interview - treat it as such. prepare well and ask pognant questions. I got my job out of college after all their spots were filled through some people I knew so it's definitely possible.

It depends but what are usually great industry groups?

btw - this Monkey needs some silver nanas :D

For which BB's and within which product/coverage teams did you work in your 2+ years experience? It seems that you have a high turnover rate. Or do you work significantly more years in IB?

thnx

I did 1 years in IB and 1 year in ECM - it's not that high - i moved cuz an MD i knew wanted me to go with her

Hey GordonsGecko,

Thanks for doing this. I have a question for you. I had an SA phone interview last week and I was told by the interviewer that I'll be contacted by two of his colleagues for two more interviews. I still haven't heard from them yet. i know its the holidays and such, but I'm a little worried. Do the analysts or associates read all the resumes and choose which ones to interview? or Do they get a bunch of prescreened resumes from HR or smth and are required to contact them?

Also, do you think I should email my interviewer and try to get the contacts of his colleagues?

Thanks so much!

^pink_elephant ... wait until after the holidays to send emails

Even during the heavy recruiting season, it still can take 7-10 days in some cases to get the call back or the next interview. Just be patient.

Industrials in Asia? Why?

Isn't TMT up and coming?

TMT in Asia is no longer up and coming. Sure lots of TMT stuff going on in Asia but it mainly involves just working with Taiwanese and some Korean clients.

For the most part, industrials is an extremely hot and busy sector particularly in China and other EM countries like Indonesia, etc (along with power)

As to the other question, HR pre screens resumes and they make a book which they then give to bankers to pick out / flag the ones they like. (Each one gets like 3-5 to pick out) and then they make an interview list and ask bankers to talk to them

You should relax - no one is at their desk this week and even if they were, the last thing they want to do is interview a college kid - enjoy the holidays and don't worry too much

Thanks GordonsGecko! gave u a silver b!

Anyone else with questions - feel free to ask

Can you shed some light on the syndicated loans group? or is this a group that isn't traditional IB product group?

It sits in DCM - its not that big - i've seen people go form that group to Hedge Funds

How do you find out what offices for particular banks are involved in nat res, tmt, etc.? Is the only way by calling them up or is this available online somewhere?

They're all run out of headquarters.

Specialist offices for Nat Res will be in 1) Houston 2) Calgary 3) MAYBE somewhere in Europe

Specialist offices for TMT 1) Menlo Park

Specialist offices for industrials / basic goods 1) Chicago

Everything else will be run out of the headquarters but the regional offices will also do some regional coverage